Apparatus for parking vehicles



Oct. 11, 1960 s. A. BAHR 2,956,252

APPARATUS FOR PARKING VEHICLES 7 Filed April a, 1956 INVENTOR.

5/M0/v 45AM? BY ite This invention relates to the art of parking vehicles and, particularly, to an apparatus for parking vehicles accurately and safely in a limited parking area.

At the present time, it is diflicult to park vehicles in a location where the vehicle approaches a wall or other obstacle as it is being parked. Generally, the driver strikes the wall before the desired parking position has been reached.

The objects of the invention concern the provision of a new and improved apparatus for parking vehicles accurately and safely in a desired location.

In general, the apparatus of the invention comprises a generally ball-like member having a transparent body portion in which is embedded a light bulb which is operated by a small electrical cell. The light bulb and the cell are axially aligned and an annular metal plate is slidably positioned coaxial with them and is adapted to slide into contact with them and to complete the electrical circuit which causes the light bulb to light. According to the invention, the ball, with the contact plate out of contact with the light bulb and the cell, is suspended over the selected parking area and it is so positioned that when a vehicle is driven into the correct parking position, it strikes the ball and the slidable contact plate. The contact plate is thus caused to complete the electrical circuit whereby the bulb lights up and the driver is aware that the vehicle is properly parked.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a device embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view along the section line 22 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the device of Fig. 1 shown in its relation to a vehicle which is properly parked by means of the device.

Referring to the drawing, a device for facilitating the parking of a vehicle, according to the invention, is preferably in the shape of a ball and comprises upper and lower body portions 12 and 14, respectively, with at least the upper portion being transparent. The two body portions may be made of plastic or any other suitable insulating material. The lower body portion 14 is generally hemispherical in form and is provided with a generally plane surface 16 and a central depression 18 therein in which a metallic cup 20 is press fit with the rim 22 of the cup at. its open end projecting above the plane surface 16. A primary cell 24 having an insulating jacket 26 is carried within the cup 20 with one terminal 28 in contact with the base of the cup 20 and the free end 30 comprising its other terminal exposed.

The upper body portion 12 is similarly hemispherical in form and has a plane surface 32 provided with a central depression 34 in which is positioned a threaded metallic sleeve 36 which carries a small light bulb 38 having its contact pin 40 exposed beyond the plane surface 32. The free end of the sleeve 36 extends beyond the plane surface 32 of the upper body portion 12.

States Patent f 2,956,262 Patented Oct.- 11, 1960 The upper and lower body portions are spaced apart by sleeves 42, and are secured together by means of bolts 44 which pass through the sleeves. When so secured, the contact pin 40 of the bulb 38 is in contact with the free end 30 of the primary cell. However, the sleeve 36 and cup 20 are spaced apart so that the electrical circuit between the cell 24 and the light bulb 38 is not complete. In the space between the upper and lower body portions 12 and 14, an annular metal contact plate 46 is slidably positioned coaxial with the bulb and cell which are substantially in axial alignment. Thus the contact plate 46 is also coaxial with the sleeve 36 and the cup 20. The contact plate is provided with suitably shaped openings 48 which surround the sleeves 42 and allow the contact plate to move freely with respect to the metal sleeve and the metal cup. The inside diameter of the contact plate 46 is greater than the outside diameters of the metal sleeve and cup and, accordingly, when it is properly centered, the contact plate does not contact these members. However, when a force is applied to the rim of the contact plate which is designated as 50 and which projects beyond the outer surfaces of the upper and lower members or body portions of the device 10, the plate slides into contact with the metal sleeve 36 and the metal cup 20 and completes the electrical circuit and the bulb lights up.

Referring to Fig. 3, in using the device 10, it is suspended over the desired parking area by means of a chain or rope 52 having one end secured to the ball and its other end secured to a roof or ceiling 54 above the parking area. The ball is thus positioned so that a portion of a vehicle 56, for example the windshield 58 strikes the ball at the desired parking location. When the vehicle strikes the ball and the contact plate 46, the plate slides inwardly into contact with the metal sleeve 36 and cup 20 to complete the electrical circuit and cause the bulb to light up. Thus, the driver knows that the desired parking location has been reached.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for parking vehicles comprising a housing consisting of two spaced apart portions, one of said portions being transparent, an electrical circuit within said housing and including a glow bulb which is visible through said transparent portion of said housing, the other of ing a discontinuity whereby said circuit is normally not completed and said bulb does not glow, a dry cell in said housing and in said electrical circuit, and electrically conductive means slidably interposed between said two portions of said housing for completing said circuit by coupling said dry cell and said bulb and causing said bulb to glow, said means extending just outside of the circumference of said housing and lying in a plane which is near the horizontal.

2. Appartus for parking vehicles comprising a ball consisting of two spaced apart portions, one of said portions being transparent, a light bulb in one of said portions and visible through said transparent portion, a primary cell in the other of said portions, an electrical circuit including said cell and said bulb, said circuit having an open portion whereby said circuit is normally not complete and said bulb does not glow, and an annular metal contact plate extending beyond the circumference of said ball and slidably positioned between said two portions and of a size suflicient to close said open portion of said circuit whereby said bulb is caused to glow.

3. Lighting apparatus comprising a two-part housing of insulating material and having a transparent portion, said housing comprising two sections secured together in spaced-apart relation, a metallic cylinder positioned in the center of said housing, said cylinder comprising two portions spaced apart and insulated from each other, one

portion carrying a glowbulb in electrical contact therewith, said bulb being oriented to transmit light through said transparent portion of said housing, the other of said two portions carrying a two terminal battery, one of said terminals being in contact with said bulb, the other terminal being in contact with the other of said two portions of said cylinder, and a metallic plate extending beyond the periphery of the housing and slidably positioned between the two sections thereof, said plate having a thickness equal to the spacing between said two sections whereby said plate may slide into contact with said two portions of said cylinder and thus complete an electrical circuit therebetween.

4. Lighting apparatus comprising a spherical housing member of insulating material and having a transparent portion, said spherical member comprising two sections secured together in spaced-apart relation, a metallic cylinder positioned in the center of said spherical member, said cylinder comprising two portions spaced apart and insulated from each other, one portion carrying a 20 2,731,934

glow bulb in electrical contact therewith, said bulb being oriented to transmit light through said transparent portion of said spherical member, the other of said two portions carrying a two terminal battery, one of said terminals being in contact with said bulb, the other terminal being in contact with the other of said two portions of said cylinder, and a metallic plate extending beyond the phriphery of said spherical member and slidably positioned between the two sections thereof, said plate having a thickness equal to the spacing between said two sections whereby said plate may slide into contact with said two portions of said cylinder and thus complete an electrical circuit therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,454,896 Traub Nov. 30, 1948 2,658,967 Matachke Nov. 10, 1953 Hausrnannet et al. J an. 24, 1956 

